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Published on: November 18, 2018
Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease
Usha Krishnan1, Erika B Rosenzweig
1Columbia University Medical Center, Pulmonary Hypertension Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, 3959 Broadway, CH-2N, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Insights
Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) increasingly face pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with CHD (APAH-CHD). This review covers APAH-CHD forms, hemodynamic interpretation, patient classification, and current treatments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Growing number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving into adulthood.
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a significant complication in this population, termed APAH-CHD.
- Management challenges arise from complex underlying conditions and late repairs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common forms of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD).
- To guide the interpretation of hemodynamic data in APAH-CHD patients.
- To classify APAH-CHD patients into clinically relevant subgroups for tailored management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on APAH-CHD.
- Analysis of hemodynamic parameters for classification.
- Discussion of current therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- Identification of prevalent APAH-CHD subtypes.
- Framework for interpreting hemodynamic profiles.
- Stratification of patients based on management needs.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis and classification of APAH-CHD are crucial for effective treatment.
- Hemodynamic assessment is key to understanding disease severity and guiding therapy.
- Targeted medical treatments are evolving for APAH-CHD patients.
Abstract:
In the past decade, there have been more patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) surviving to adulthood; whether due to late repair, or complex underlying CHD, many of these patients will be faced with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with CHD (APAH-CHD). In this review, the authors discuss the most commonly encountered forms of APAH-CHD, how to interpret the hemodynamic data, and how to classify the patients into meaningful subgroups that have similar management strategies. The current state of targeted medical treatments available to patients with APAH-CHD is also discussed.
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